UP cops stronger with 7 new bomb squads, 12 anti-sabotage teams

LUCKNOW: To strengthen the security paraphernalia of the state police and for quick detection and disposal of any unwanted explosive items/materials at a place which is sensitive from security point of view, UP Police got seven new bomb detection and disposal squads and two anti-sabotage teams (AST), on Sunday.
Additional DG Security Headquarters, Binod Singh, said with the increase of five new BDDS and two AST units, the total number of BDDS squads in UP is now 31, while AS teams now number 12. "The AST teams work on bomb threat situations, and on how to detect explosive devices concealing methods used by terrorists and extremist groups.
"We started with five teams in 1987, and by 2010, we had 26 BDDS units. Thereafter, keeping in mind the increasing threat perceptions and security challenges of the state, Security Department prepared a proposal for the creation of five new BDDS and AS teams in 2021, which was sanctioned by the government," said Singh.
"The new BDDS will be raised to engage them for Lucknow Secretariat complex and High Court in Prayagraj and High Court in Commissionerate Varanasi. besides this, 02 BDDS and 02 new AS teams for security checking of Ram Janam Bhoomi complex," he said. The new squads have been trained at Manesar by National Security Guards (NSG) and at the Institute Of IED Management CRPF, Pune. Some of the existing BDDS squads are based in Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Mathura, Agra, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Varanasi, the ADG said. An officer said a host of explosive detection equipment with improved features will also be added in these five units.